Weekly Update 12.03.18

Weekly Update 12.03.18

"Information helps you to see that you're not alone."Maya Angelou

In recent weeks we've been asked to touch on these two queries: "Aside from the Weekly Email Update where do I find real time information about local events and campaigns?" and "Where can I find ideas on how to give or seek solidarity right now?"

These are fantastic questions! Here are a few resources we use regularly to help stay up-to-the-minute informed about marches and vigils planned with short notice:WeCAN Facebook Group: Open to Facebook members, this group is an extension of this email blast and is moderated and administered by local group and community leaders. Here you can find event postings in real time with the option to create your own events listings as well. The Rapid Response Text System by Song and Solidarity: This system, run by the local group Song and Solidarity, texts members to alert of locally occurring protests, marches, postcard campaigns, and more. Directions for signing up are on WeCAN's website, here: https://www.wecantogether.net/rapid_response.Brattleboro.com Event Calendar: A comprehensive list of goings-on in Brattleboro that is updated daily.The Root Social Justice Center's Calendar:This extensive calendar is updated regularly; their Facebook page and website reflect real time announcements of marches and gatherings happening locally. The Putney Huddle's public Facebook pageis updated regularly and often reflects real time march and vigil information.

For those that would like to give or seek solidarity right now, in this moment, we offer these two resources:To give solidarity: The Local Love Brigade: The mission of this group is to band together when there is an incident of hate and respond with giant helpings of love in the form of mailed postcards and notes. Through the reliably updated spreadsheets, you can dive deeper into the stories of people needing a bit of love and garner a larger understanding of social injustices happening at your local and national level. For those that are seeking solidarity: we encourage you to plan an event of your own with the backing of a local group. This website, https://www.mapsonline.net/brattleborovt/forms/standalone.html.php?id=854136589, is the town of Brattleboro's Parade and Open Air Meeting Permit Application platform and an excellent place to start.

We hope that by sharing these resources we can all be better prepared to show up when necessary, make our voices heard, and help our neighbors cope. To suggest other resources, please email admin@wecantogether.net and let us know how you keep up-to-the-minute informed.

HAPPENING TODAY, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2nd, 2018

Shine a Light for Social Justicehosted by the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community and Congregation Shir HeharimSunday, December 2nd, 2018 at Elliot Street Fish ’n Chips (Elliot Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 5:15pm-5:30pm. For more information about the Shine a Light events or about BAJC, contact Laura Berkowitz at options@myfairpoint.net.In solidarity with the challenges that all marginalized people in our country face today, the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community (BAJC) will be shining a light for social justice on each of the eight nights of Chanukah (December 2-9) in eight Brattleboro, Vermont venues. The seeds for this idea emerged from a deep desire to be a visible force for tolerance and peace. Chanukah’s ancient story is one of a small band of people, the Maccabees, who rose up against religious and cultural oppression by reclaiming their destroyed temple. Celebrations ensued around a single vial of oil expected to burn for one night only. Instead, the oil burned for 8 days!! Thus, the miracle of Chanukah for the Jewish people is the custom of the “lighting of candles” for eight nights, in commemoration of religious freedom.• Sunday December 2nd, Elliot Street Fish ‘n Chips, a business owned by three women and employing other young women, will host the candle lighting to shine a light on the issue of Equality for Women.Local businesses are enthusiastic for the opportunity to host a night of candle lighting and to share the message of Chanukah to a wider audience in support of the following Human Rights issues. Chanukah comes to us from across millennia and still carries the message of freedom, respect, and equality for all people. It’s time that we stand together in the light. All are welcome!!All events begin promptly at 5:15pm.

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HAPPENING THIS WEEK, MONDAY, DECEMBER 3rd, 2018-SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9th, 2018

Shine a Light for Social Justicehosted by the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community and Congregation Shir HeharimMonday, December 3rd, 2018 at Twin Flames Taqueria (Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 5:15pm-5:30pm.In solidarity with the challenges that all marginalized people in our country face today, the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community (BAJC) will be shining a light for social justice on each of the eight nights of Chanukah (December 2-9) in eight Brattleboro, Vermont venues.• Monday December 3rd, Twin Flames Taqueria, owned and managed by people who take pride in their Jewish heritage, will host the candle lighting to shine a light on Anti-Semitism.Local businesses are enthusiastic for the opportunity to host a night of candle lighting and to share the message of Chanukah to a wider audience in support of the following Human Rights issues. All events begin promptly at 5:15pm.

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Shine a Light for Social Justicehosted by the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community and Congregation Shir HeharimTuesday, December 4th, 2018 at Twice Upon a Time (Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 5:15pm-5:30pm.In solidarity with the challenges that all marginalized people in our country face today, the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community (BAJC) will be shining a light for social justice on each of the eight nights of Chanukah (December 2-9) in eight Brattleboro, Vermont venues.•Tuesday December 4th, Twice Upon A Time, which offers used clothing, jewelry and furniture will help us shine a light on those who struggle with Addiction.Local businesses are enthusiastic for the opportunity to host a night of candle lighting and to share the message of Chanukah to a wider audience in support of the following Human Rights issues.All events begin promptly at 5:15pm.

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Shine a Light for Social Justicehosted by the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community and Congregation Shir HeharimWednesday, December 5th, 2018 at Altiplano (Elliot Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 5:15pm-5:30pm.In solidarity with the challenges that all marginalized people in our country face today, the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community (BAJC) will be shining a light for social justice on each of the eight nights of Chanukah (December 2-9) in eight Brattleboro, Vermont venues.•Wednesday December 5th, Altiplano will shine a light of the issue of Homelessness in our local community and around the country.Local businesses are enthusiastic for the opportunity to host a night of candle lighting and to share the message of Chanukah to a wider audience in support of the following Human Rights issues.All events begin promptly at 5:15pm.

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Writing the Life of Frederick Douglass: Part of the Vermont Humanities Council's First Wednesdays Series of Free Public Lectureshosted by the Vermont Humanities Council and the Brooks Memorial Library and Underwritten by the Vermont Bar AssociationWednesday, December 5th, 2018 at Brooks Memorial Library (224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 7pm-8:30pm.Yale historian David Blight, author of a new biography of Frederick Douglass, tells Douglass’s story: an escaped slave who became one of the leading abolitionists, orators, and writers of his era.

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Shine a Light for Social Justicehosted by the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community and Congregation Shir HeharimThursday, December 6th, 2018 at Beadniks (Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 5:15pm-5:30pm.In solidarity with the challenges that all marginalized people in our country face today, the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community (BAJC) will be shining a light for social justice on each of the eight nights of Chanukah (December 2-9) in eight Brattleboro, Vermont venues.•Thursday December 6th candles will be lit at Beadniks, to shine a light on the issue of Religious Freedom.Local businesses are enthusiastic for the opportunity to host a night of candle lighting and to share the message of Chanukah to a wider audience in support of the following Human Rights issues.All events begin promptly at 5:15pm.

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Men, Patriarchy, and Capitalismhosted by Brattleboro SolidarityThursday, December 6th, 2018 from 6pm-7:30pmThursday, December 13th, 2018 from 6pm-7:30pmAll meetings will take place at the Brattleboro Food Co-op (2 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301) in the Community Room (please use the 7 Canal Street Entrance).Readings will be provided. Refreshments will be served. This is a free event. Please email us at brattleborosolidarity@gmail.com to sign up.Men, please join us in doing this work! From the European witch hunts of the 1300's to rape culture, male violence has been a troubling theme of modern history. Thanks to the visibility gained by social mobilizations such as the MeToo movement, one would be hard-pressed to argue that we have made much progress in decreasing it. In mainstream discourse, male violence is explained away as the actions of deviant individuals, "bad apples." This explanation avoids questions that implicate the system in which we live. In order to really understand where male violence comes from, we need to situate our understanding in a larger analysis of history.Grounded in readings from (but not limited to) Angela Davis, bell hooks, Silvia Federici, and Jackson Katz, we will focus on the following questions: - Is male violence a men’s issue for men to analyze, discuss and end?- What are the connections within the current political climate to historical events?- How do our thoughts and ideology shape our actions and interactions?- Does capitalism affect how men act in the world?

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Shine a Light for Social Justicehosted by the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community and Congregation Shir HeharimFriday, December 7th, 2018 at Gallery in the Woods (Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 5:15pm-5:30pm.In solidarity with the challenges that all marginalized people in our country face today, the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community (BAJC) will be shining a light for social justice on each of the eight nights of Chanukah (December 2-9) in eight Brattleboro, Vermont venues.• Friday December 7th, Gallery in the Woods, with a display of Guatemalan art, will shine a light on the Struggles of Immigrants to this country.Local businesses are enthusiastic for the opportunity to host a night of candle lighting and to share the message of Chanukah to a wider audience in support of the following Human Rights issues.All events begin promptly at 5:15pm.

Shine a Light for Social Justicehosted by the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community and Congregation Shir HeharimSaturday, December 8th, 2018 at Burrows Specialized Sports (Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 5:15pm-5:30pm.In solidarity with the challenges that all marginalized people in our country face today, the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community (BAJC) will be shining a light for social justice on each of the eight nights of Chanukah (December 2-9) in eight Brattleboro, Vermont venues.•Saturday December 8th, Burrows Specialized Sports, owned by an interracial family, will shine a light on Racial Justice.Local businesses are enthusiastic for the opportunity to host a night of candle lighting and to share the message of Chanukah to a wider audience in support of the following Human Rights issues.All events begin promptly at 5:15pm.

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Liberty in a Soupsponsored by the Windham World Affairs Council, 118 Elliot Street, and Haiti Orphanage Sponsorship Trust (HOST)Sunday, December 9th, 2018 at 118 Elliot (118 Elliot Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 5pm-8pm. For more info, please visit: http://www.windhamworldaffairscouncil.org/future-events/.Windham World Affairs Council and 118 Elliot are sponsoring this celebration and benefit event being offered by the Haiti Orphanage Sponsorship Trust (HOST), a small, grassroots non-profit based in Vermont whose mission is to meet basic needs for food, education, medical care, and other essentials for the children living at Foyer Evangelique Orphanage in Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti.We will screen a documentary by Haitian filmmaker Dudley Alexis called "Liberty in a Soup." This film tells the story of the Haitian Revolution in 1804 and the origins of the Haitian Independence Day tradition of Haitian families gathering to celebrate freedom and enjoy a meal of a pumpkin-based soup called Soup Joumou each year on January 1.After the film, we will enjoy a meal of homemade Soup Joumou, traditionally a mix of squash, potatoes and meat, but we will also offer a vegetarian version as well as bread, cheese and beverages. Suggested contribution is $10 per person. All proceeds will be utilized to support HOSTs mission.

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Shine a Light for Social Justicehosted by the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community and Congregation Shir HeharimSunday, December 9th, 2018 at Centre Congregational Church (Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 5:15pm-5:30pm.In solidarity with the challenges that all marginalized people in our country face today, the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community (BAJC) will be shining a light for social justice on each of the eight nights of Chanukah (December 2-9) in eight Brattleboro, Vermont venues.•Sunday December 9th, the last night of Chanukah the Centre Congregational Church will host the candle that shines a light on the LGBTQ community.Local businesses are enthusiastic for the opportunity to host a night of candle lighting and to share the message of Chanukah to a wider audience in support of the following Human Rights issues.All events begin promptly at 5:15pm.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Panel: Addiction and Recovery in Our Communitysponsored by the Brattleboro Retreat and supported in part by the Vermont Arts Council and National Endowment for the ArtsThursday, December 13th, 2018 at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (10 Vernon Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 7pm-9pm. Free. For more information please go to www.brattleboromuseum.org.Susan Avery of Nar-Anon, Lt. Adam Petlock of the Brattleboro Police Department, Susan Walker of Turning Point of Windham County, and Kurt White of the Brattleboro Retreat share their perspectives on addiction and recovery resources in our community. Moderated by Geoff Kane, MD, Chief Addiction Services at the Brattleboro Retreat.

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A Conversation with Your Legislators: Becca Balint, Jeanette White, Matthew Trieber, Carolyn Partridge, Mike Mrowicki, and Nader Hashimsponsored by the: The Rockingham Democratic Committee and the Westminster Democratic CommitteeSaturday, December 15th, 2018 at the Rockingham Public Library (65 Westminster St, Bellows Falls, VT 05101) from 11am-1pm. Questions? Please contact Leslie Goldman, chair, Rockingham Democratic Committee at goldpeak100@gmail.com.Join Senators Becca Balint and Jeanette White of Windham County, Representatives Matthew Trieber and Carolyn Partridge from Windham-3 and Mike Mrowicki and Nader Hashim from Windham-4 for a conversation at Rockingham Public Library this December 15th! Senator Becca Balint has identified several concerns for the next session: “With a woman’s right to choose under attack federally, the state legislature will push to pass legislation that will guarantee that right in statute. The federal government should not control women’s bodies.”“The legislature passed Family Medical Leave Insurance and minimum wage increase last session. Both were vetoed by Governor Scott. We are determined to again pass legislation to make Vermont more affordable.”“Vermonters are rightly demanding a more robust conversation about our renewable energy goals in a fossil fuel-free future. We are looking forward to getting the Joint Fiscal Report in January on carbon pricing, and we hope it will be a roadmap forward to help us meet our goals.” What are your concerns?? Bring them to the conversation on December 15!

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Fair and Impartial Policing Discussionhosted by Nadir Hashim for State Representative and The Putney HuddleSunday, December 16th, 2108 at the Putney Public Library (55 Main Street, Putney, VT, 05346). 5pm-7pm. The Putney Huddle is excited to cosponsor a discussion on race relations and fair and impartial policing in Vermont with Representative Mike Mrowicki and Representative-elect Nader Hashim. Join us, along with guest speakers, Steffen Gillom, president of the Windham County NAACP and Lieutenant Scott, chair of the Fair & Impartial Policing committee, Dec 16, 5pm, at the Putney Public Library, for what is sure to be an interesting and informative evening.

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Solstice Ride: A Critical Mass Bicycle RideFriday, December 21st, 2018 on the Brattleboro Common (Park Place, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 5:30pm-6:30pm. NOTE: This event is weather-dependent.Join another fun and empowering community ride in celebration of the winter solstice! Kids and families welcome! Critical (and "Kidical") Mass rides have a unique way of energizing folks around bike mobility, transportation solutions and amplifying our collective ability and power to begin reclaiming our streets and communities. We need this, and we need YOU!Agenda:5:30pm: This time, we'll be starting AND ending at the Brattleboro Common. We'll begin by getting organized, signing in, decorating bikes, and going over our route.5:45pm: Begin Critical Mass ride. This will be a high-visibility downtown route!6:00pm: End ride back at the Brattleboro Common. Celebrate with hot apple cider and solidarity in community.The Critical Mass bike ride that occurred on Saturday, September 8th, 2018 as part of the Global Rise for Climate was the largest activist ride ever in the area & a sign of the emergence of a bike mobility revolution in our region. A second critical mass ride took place on Saturday, October 20th, 2018.Help us spread the word to help make this another successful critical mass ride!!Image credit: Hugh D'Andrade

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Get the Word Out!: Non-Profit Showcasehosted by Strolling of the Heifers and the Robert H. Gibson River GardenFriday, January 4th, 2018 at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden (157 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 5:30pm-8:30pm. Contact Vicki Friedman for more information: vicki@strollingoftheheifers.com or call 802-246-0982.Get the Word Out about your non-profit organization during January Gallery Walk! Organizations can distribute information, sign up volunteers, attract donors, and get event participants at Strolling of the Heifers' annual celebration of local non-profits. Sign up today! Space is limited. REGISTER HERE:https://www.strollingoftheheifers.com/get-word-registration-2019/. Exhibitor Fee: $35.00.

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The Brattleboro Town ADA Committee is focusing their attention on parking issues for people with mobility issues in our downtown. If you, your friend or family member has a mobility issue of any kind, please take a minute or two to fill out the survey (below). The ADA committee encourages you to share the survey so that many people can give their input as well. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JWS8VJY

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RESOURCE FOR WeCAN: Rapid Response Text Alert SystemWhen WeCAN began Song & Solidarity set up a Rapid Response Text Alert System for WeCAN Groups. Directions for signing up are on WeCAN's website, here: https://www.wecantogether.net/rapid_response We were reminded of the Rapid Response text alerts system as President Trump moves towards firing Mueller. In the event Mueller is fired, MoveOn is planning a nation-wide simultaneous protest. The trick will be to get the word out fast if/when the time comes. We are grateful to Song and Solidarity for providing this service.

Youth 4 ChangeMeetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month from 5:30pm-8pm.For more information please contact Youth 4 Change at youth4changeaction@gmail.com.Agenda:5:30pm: Drop in homework time and art making6:00pm: Food6:30pm: Meeting and OrganizingYouth 4 Change is for local-area youth 12-22 interested in political organizing around local/state/national social justice issues that are important to them. Brattleboro area advocates and educators are holding a space, and assisting youth in building a strong personal tool kit to organize for change. Using a variety of creative methods, we aim to enable youth with tools for resilience, courage and compassion, while fostering their ability to speak up about issues that matter to them, and to take action in the name of love and liberation for all people. Come explore issues of racial, economic and gender justice through art, movement, first-hand accounts and contemplative practices. Connect with area youth around the issues that matter to you and strengthen your tool kit for action!

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Alternatives to Suicide Every Wednesday, 6pm-7:30pm at the Hive Space (24 Flat St, Suite 202, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). Second Floor, up one flight of stairs.Alternatives to Suicide is a mutual support group open to anyone who has experienced thoughts of suicide. The group is guided by a charter of values provided by the Western Mass Recovery Learning Community. The group is non-clinical and does not link suicide with illness. Participants are free to talk about and find meaning in their experiences in/on their own terms.

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ONGOING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING

Indigo RadioSundays at 12pm on Brattleboro Community Radio 107.7FMTo stream live: Visit www.wvew.org Indigo Radio, deepening understanding and making connections! IndigoRadio is a group of area educators seeking to learn through engaging with others in our community and throughout the world. We will be talking about educational and social issues both globally and locally and connecting them to our lives and Brattleboro community. Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/indigoradiowvew/. For archive recordings of past shows: https://soundcloud.com/user-654648353.

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Have a wonderful start to the Holiday Season, friends, and we wish those of you celebrating a very Happy Chanukah. Shalom to all.